Pretty sure it's an option that loads with IE9, but it prompts you for permission on the first use of the browser.

Yup, but most will unknowingly just click "Recommended" which enables it.

It's even enabled at my work and is quite annoying because being in IT means you have to download a fair amount of "unsigned" executable which all get blocked and thanks to group policies, there's no way to "allow" it. Thankfully I can install and use Firefox though ;)

IE8 also has it too, just to a lesser extent. I think it only searched URLs rather than files/installers.

Yup, but most will unknowingly just click "Recommended" which enables it.

It's even enabled at my work and is quite annoying because being in IT means you have to download a fair amount of "unsigned" executable which all get blocked and thanks to group policies, there's no way to "allow" it. Thankfully I can install and use Firefox though ;)

IE8 also has it too, just to a lesser extent. I think it only searched URLs rather than files/installers.

And that's the rub right there.... Whether folks make informed decsions about its use is up to them, but at least in this case they are asked to provide permission.

I know most folks these days don't give too figs about this kind of stuff because it seems like every service comes with this kind of penalty, but some of us still value our personal data and refuse to easily hand it over, especially for free.

I don't mind the corps data mining me, but they'd better damn well be ready to pay through the nose for it. :)

Well, the only Win7 machines here are also testing machines so they're also protected. If they can't reach "home" they can't blab :) My home Windwos machien runs XP and then only for games and one or two specialty apps.

Under US law all citizens, corporate or private, are held to be within the jurisdiction of the US legal system, regardless of where they are in the world. This includes their assets (such as servers and the information they contain). Other countries have similar provisions, including Canada - though not perhaps as rigorously implemented).

I still don't see how people are comparing the smartscreen on windows 7 that is incorporated with IE to what is in windows 8. I mean from what I know the Windows 7 one only sends website addresses (not saying this is a good thing), whereas the windows 8 version sends information about anything you attempt to install.

That is a huge difference between the two. Also the windows 7 version does prompt you to set the security settings when you first start IE9. Of course most people just select the recommended settings but at least it prompts you. With this windows 8 feature you are not told about it and it is turned on by default. Just because we can turn it off doesn't change the fact that it should not even be on by default in the first place, or like others mentioned at least prompt about it when setting up first user and all that. Also don't forget that most people will be logging in with their windows live ID's and then everything that they install could be linked to there live ID and therefore to them.

Ah well, just another reason not to install it.

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I don't mind the corps data mining me, but they'd better damn well be ready to pay through the nose for it. :)

It's no different than TV these days. We pay ungodly amounts to have the "service" brought into our homes, only to be bombarded with 20 minutes of ads for every hour.

As for the SmartScreen concerns, I think it's for the general population to help prevent people from unknowingly installing malware and such. Likewise, that's why Security Essentials (now Defender) is included within too. MS is trying to become a more "secure by design" OS to clean up it's brand. I would say it's beneficial in the end, but for us more "experienced" users, it's obviously concerning to have data being transmitted.

It's no different than Android and iOS though. They all track what you install on your mobile devices. I think that's why Windows 8 is doing it too, likely so you have a "history" in the MS Store so you can re-install your apps on other devices. Have to realize that Windows 8 was built to be a tablet IMO.

One way or another, you are always being watched, monitored, and tracked. Let's face the reality. Nothing that is connected to the Internet is by any means secure. You can tunnel all you want until your connection is reduced to 56K speeds and still, if somebody wants to find you, they can and will. Ultimately there's an IP address tied to your home or device.